6th Sunday
after Pentecost B
September 16,
2012
Mark 8:27-38
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| An icon of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. |
Jesus is the
greatest teacher. In today's terms, Jesus gives "lectures"--theories
that feed our mind. But he also gives us guidelines for "laboratory",
that is, practical lessons for life. However, often, the
"examinations" for "laboratory" are more difficult than
that for "lecture". I teach both lectures and laboratory courses in
English. Examinations for lectures courses are "pen-and-paper" tests
with around a hundred items each; while oral examinations for laboratory
courses is composed of only one question. Most students take written
examinations in stride--after all, all that they have to do is to read,
memorize, and comprehend their lecture notes. But when it comes to oral
examinations, a lot of students become panicky and nervous--some could hardly
speak! Often, we find it easier just to memorize our notes but we find it
difficult to apply our lessons to life.
I.
"Graded recitation" (8:27-30)
A. On day, when Jesus and his disciples were at Caesarea
Philippi, he gave a "graded recitation" to his disciples: "Who
do people say I am?" The disciples answered, "Some say you're John
the Baptist; others say you are Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
Who do the people say Jesus is? Some religions believe that Jesus is a prophet;
others that he is a good teacher; others believe that he is only a man. What do other people say who Jesus is?
B. Then Jesus asked a more important question: "Who do
you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah". (In class,
we always have people who are eager to recite.) Then Jesus warned the disciples
"not to tell anyone" that he is the Messiah--yet. John Wesley, in his
Notes upon the New Testament, says,
Jesus
himself had not said it expressly even to his apostles, but left it for them to
infer from his doctrine and miracles. Neither was it proper the apostles should
say this openly, before the grand proof it, the resurrection. If they had, they
that believed them would have more earnestly have sought to take and make him a
king; and they who did not believe them would the snore vehemently have
rejected and opposed such a Messiah (Note on Matthew 18:20).
But the more
important question is: Who do you say Jesus is? that is, Who is he in your life? It is easy to answer "graded
recitations" like this and often we have ready answers; like Jesus is our Savior, Messiah, Lord, God,
& c. But who is he really in your life? I once talked with someone who
is converting to another sect that does not believe that Jesus is God--and is
very famous for text-proofing that this is so. Instead of challenging this
wrong doctrine, I simply asked him, "Who is Jesus in your life?" He may
have thought that I may be asking him to give me verses that prove Jesus is God
or man. So I clarified it: "Who is he in your life?" He could not
give me a straight answer. If in our lives, Jesus means nothing, we can
exchange him for anything.
II. "Practical examination"
(8:31-37)
A. 1. When I took the Licensure Examination for Teachers
(LET), the part of the test for Education subjects often present a situation
that needs to be analyzed. After the “graded recitation”, Jesus gives the
disciples a "practical examination": he told them a scenario (a
prophecy actually, the first one about his death): "The Son of Man must
suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the
teachers of the Law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise
again." The Bible even says, "He spoke plainly (or openly) about
this". Then Peter--who earlier confessed that Jesus is the Messiah--took
him aside (Wesley writes, “Perhaps by the arms or clothes”, Note on Mark 8:34) "and
began to rebuke him".
But Jesus
turned and rebuked Peter (in front of the other disciples!): “Get behind me,
(or, “Get out of my sight!”) Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God
but the things of man!” Jesus did not tell Peter to get lost (or “to kick Peter
out of school”); but to get out of his way where Peter might hinder the mission
of Jesus, and to return to his rightful place behind Jesus. Wesley notes,
Perhaps
the term Satan may not barely mean, Thou art my enemy, while thou fanciest
thyself most my friend; but also, Thou art acting the very part of Satan, both
by endeavouring to hinder the redemption of mankind, and by giving me the most
deadly advice that can ever spring from the pit of hell…. We may learn from
hence,
1.
That whosoever says to us in such a case, favour thyself, is acting the part of
the devil:
2.
That the proper answer to such an adviser is, Get thee behind me:
3.
That otherwise he will be an offense to us, an occasion of our stumbling, if
not falling: (Note on Matthew 16:23)
B. Then Jesus called all the people and his apostles and
told them, “If any one will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross and follow me.” By this Wesley says, No one is forced to follow
Jesus, but if anyone who follow Jesus, these are the terms:
Let
him deny himself—His own will, in all things small and great, however leasing,
and that continually: And take up his cross—Embrace the will of God, however
painful, daily, hourly, continually. Thus only can he follow me in holiness to
glory. (Note on Mark 8:34).
On the
crosses each one should bear, Wesley says,
Should
we not consider all crosses, all things grievous to flesh and blood, as what
they really are, as opportunities of embracing God's will at the expense of our
own? And consequently as so many steps by which we may advance toward perfection?
We should make a swift progress in the spiritual life, if we were faithful in
this practice. Crosses are so frequent, that whoever makes advantage of them,
will soon be a great gainer (Note on Matthew 8:24).
There are two
kinds of crosses: “great crosses” and “little crosses”:
Great
crosses are occasions of great improvement: and the little ones, which come
daily, and even hourly, make up in number what they want in weight. We may in
these daily and hourly crosses make effectual oblations of our will to God;
which oblations, so frequently repeated, will soon amount to a great sum. Let
us remember then (what can never be sufficiently inculcated) that God is the
author of all events: that none is so small or inconsiderable, as to escape his
notice and direction. Every event therefore declares to us the will of God, to which
thus declared we should heartily submit. We should renounce our own to embrace
it; we should approve and choose what his choice warrants as best for us.
Herein should we exercise ourselves continually; this should be our practice
all the day long. We should in humility accept the little crosses that are
dispensed to us, as those that best suit our weakness. Let us bear these little
things, at least for God's sake, and prefer his will to our own in matters of
so small importance. (Note on Matthew 8:24).
C. Think of the cross (our crosses, not the Cross of Christ,
with he alone may bear but we are all to share—John 19:17, where Jesus alone
bears the cross; comp. Mark 15:21, where Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus bear the
cross) as exercise equipment. Anyone who has tried exercising knows how hard
the first sessions can be. One may not feel anything right after exercise, but
one’s body may feel sore right before going to bed. The brain is also a muscle—whenever
I give an “exercise” to my students in Hebrew, they welcome it with dread:
their head is going to hurt again. But I tell them: exercise is not pleasurable
at first, but constant exercise will make you develop mental toughness. In like
manner, the crosses that God gives us are an exercise for our faith. As said
earlier, the “great crosses” are opportunities to build great character; but
the “little crosses” that come daily or hourly constantly test our faith.
Whenever we
have an exercise in our faith, what should we do? Should we just go back to bed
and pray for the whole thing to blow over? No; we are to take up our crosses,
little and great, and as this builds up our faith, we will find these crosses a
blessing.
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